Law would criminalize homeless 'dumping' (Hollywood Presbyterian)

[struggle4progress]

2/22/2007, 6:47 p.m. PT
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A hospital said Thursday that procedures "were not strictly followed" when a van driver left a discharged paraplegic man crawling on Skid Row this month, and steps will be taken to improve services for the homeless.

The statement by Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center came as local and state officials, responding to a series of incidents, unveiled a bill that would make it a crime for hospitals to discharge homeless patients on streets ...

Authorities have had trouble building criminal cases against medical providers because there isn't a state law that specifically prohibits leaving patients on the streets. The legislation would make it a misdemeanor to leave patients anywhere other than their residences without their informed consent ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?...